1.
Huaca de la Luna
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Huaca de la Luna is a large adobe brick structure built mainly by the Moche people of northern Peru. Along with the Huaca del Sol, the Huaca de la Luna is part of Huacas de Moche, the Huacas de Moche site is located 4 km outside the modern city of Trujillo, near the mouth of the Moche River valley. The Huaca de la Luna, though it is the smaller of the two huacas at the site, has yielded the most archaeological information. The Huaca del Sol was partially destroyed and looted by Spanish conquistadors in the 17th century, archeologists believe that the Huaca del Sol may have served for administrative, military, and residential functions, as well as a burial mound for the Moche elite. The Huaca de la Luna served primarily a ceremonial and religious function, today the Huaca de la Luna is colored the soft brown of its adobe brickwork. At the time of construction, it was decorated in registers of murals which were painted in black, bright red, sky blue, white, the sun and weather has since utterly faded these murals away. Inside the Huaca are other murals created in earlier phases of construction, many of these depict a deity now known as Ayapec. Ayapec is a pre-Quechua word translating as all knowing, wrinkle-Face is the name given to another deity by the later Inca because of the deitys appearance. Many of the bricks used in the structure bear one of over 100 different markings. Each team was assigned a mark to put on their bricks. The Huaca de la Luna is a complex of three main platforms, each one serving a different function. The northernmost platform, at one time decorated with a variety of murals. The surviving central and southern platforms have been the focus of most excavations, the central platform has yielded multiple high-status burials interred with a variety of fine ceramics, suggesting that it was used as a burial ground for the Moche religious elite. The grave goods found at the Huaca del Sol suggest it may have used for the interment of political rulers. The eastern platform, black rock and adjacent patios were the sites of human sacrifice rituals and these are depicted in a variety of Moche visual arts, most notably painted ceramics. After the sacrifice, bodies of victims would be hurled over the side of the Huaca and left exposed in the patios. Researchers have discovered multiple skeletons of adult males at the foot of the rock, all of whom show signs of trauma, usually a severe blow to the head, the World Monuments Fund has been working at Huaca de la Luna to support needed conservation work. This includes ongoing assessments, documentation, stabilization, and consolidation of excavated architectural, el Brujo Moche culture Huanchaco Trujillo, Peru Art of the Andes, from Chavin to Inca

2.
El Brujo
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The El Brujo Archaeological Complex, just north of Trujillo, La Libertad Province, Peru, is an ancient archaeological site that was occupied from preceramic times. Huaca Prieta is the earliest part of the complex, later, the site was part of the Cupisnique culture and the Salinar culture. But the biggest constructions on the site belong to the Moche culture, in this area, there are also the remains of the later Lambayeque and Chimú. Huaca El Brujo and Huaca Cao Viejo were built by the Moche sometime between AD1 and 600, Huaca Cao Viejo is famous for its polychrome reliefs and mural paintings, and the discovery of the Señora de Cao, the first known governess in Peru. Both appeared in National Geographic magazine in July 2004 and June 2006, the site officially opened to the public in May 2006, and a museum exhibition was proposed for 2007. Archaeologists believe that the language was influenced by Quechua, an ancient tongue still spoken by millions of people across the Andes

3.
Huaca del Sol
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The Huaca del Sol is an adobe brick temple built by the Moche civilization on the northern coast of what is now Peru. The temple is one of several ruins found near the peak of Cerro Blanco. The other major ruin at the site is the nearby Huaca de la Luna, by 450 CE, eight different stages of construction had been completed on the Huaca del Sol. The technique was additive, new layers of brick were laid directly on top of the old, archeologists have estimated that the Huaca del Sol was composed of over 130 million adobe bricks and was the largest pre-Columbian adobe structure built in the Americas. The number of different makers marks on the bricks suggests that over a hundred different communities contributed bricks to the construction of the Huacas, the Huaca del Sol was composed of four main levels. The structure was expanded and rebuilt by different rulers over the course of time and it is believed to have originally been about 50 meters in height and 340m. by 160 m. at the base. Located at the center of the Moche capital city, the temple appears to have used for ritual, ceremonial activities and as a royal residence. Archaeological evidence attests to these functions, the operation of the hydraulic mine greatly damaged the Huaca del Sol. In total, approximately two-thirds of the structure has been lost to erosion, the remaining structure stands at a height of 41 meters. Looting and erosion due to El Niño continue to be major concerns to this day. Huaca de la Luna History of Peru Pre-Inca cultures www. huacas. com Sun and Moon Temples, Official website Huaca del Sol placemarks Google Earth. kmz Art of the Andes, rebecca Stone-Miller, Thames and Hudson,1995. The Incas and Their Ancestors, the archaeology of Peru, michael E. Moseley, Thames and Hudson,1992

4.
Pacatnamu
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The Pacatnamu site is located at the mouth of the Jequetepeque Valley on the northern coast of Peru. Rocky cliffs protect two of its sides and a manmade wall protects the third and this area of Peru does not have a tropical environment, it gets very little precipitation and has a mild climate, which sometime can become very humid. Explorers had mentioned the site of Pacatnamu since the late 1800s, kroeber made some sketches of the main architectural features of the site but only of one portion of the site. Archaeological excavations first began in 1937–39 by German archaeologist, Ubbelohde-Doering and he conducted more excavations in 1952–53 and again in 1962–63. His work resulted in more excavations of more pyramid complexes, wolfgang and Giesela Hecker joined Ubbelohde-Doering on his 1962–63 excavations. They produced a map of the site as a whole as well as some detailed maps of the architectural features. Richard Keatinge conducted a surface survey in 1974 and published several brief reports on his findings. In 1983 the Instituto Nacional de Cultura in Lima approved the Museum of Cultural History at the University of California and this excavation was extremely successful and from their research they produced hundreds of artifacts and created a chronology of occupation for the site. There are two periods of early period when Moche ceramics were in use, and a later period characterized by the use of Chimu ceramics. Brick serration used in construction allows us to see a chronology of occupation with in each of those times of occupation, Pacatnamu was unoccupied before the end of Moche IV or the beginning of the Moche V. During this Moche period some ceremonial architecture was constructed, during this time of occupation ceramics clearly show some Huari influence, but the textiles are clearly Moche. Also the burials from this time simply reflect Moche styles, near the end of Moche occupation a new ceramic for was added and this has clearly signaled the end of the Moche occupation. In approximately A. D.1050 there is a break between the Moche occupation and Chimu occupation and this period coincides with extensive flooding in this area and a dramatic change in nearly all artifact types. The second outbreak of population is known as the Chimu occupation, Major walls were built at this time because of a need for defense. There is a bit of unfinished wall to the north, which suggests they were trying to expand near the end of their occupation, not much is known about why the Chimu occupation ended but it happened sometime around A. D.1370. It is possible that more populations occupied Pacatnamu after 1370, there are two periods of occupation-an early period when Moche ceramics were in use, and a later period characterized by the use of Chimu ceramics. Brick serration used in construction allows us to see a chronology of occupation with in each of those times of occupation, Pacatnamu was unoccupied before the end of Moche IV or the beginning of the Moche V. During this Moche period some ceremonial architecture was constructed, during this time of occupation ceramics clearly show some Huari influence, but the textiles are clearly Moche

5.
Ai apaec
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Ai apaec, also called degollador was the chief deity of the Mochica culture, was one of their gods punishers, the most feared and adored, is also called the headsman. Ai Apaec was worshiped as the god, protector of the Moche. Aiapaec means doer in Mochica language, the most common representation of Ai Apaec is that seen in the murals of the Temples of the moon and sun, which presents an anthropomorphic face with feline fangs and surrounding ocean waves. Ai apaec was represented in several ways, depending on the period, place, in metallurgy, for example, Ai apaec is often seen as a spider with eight legs and an anthropomorphic face with jaguar fangs. In ceramics the divinity is often more anthropomorphic, usually with his head in his hands, in sculpture he is shown with a staff. It is said that human sacrifices, prisoners were decapitated. Ai Apaec is a villain in the Marvel Universe and he is depicted as having the torso of a human male with the lower body of an enormous spider. Recruited by Norman Osborn, he is given a serum that changes him into a six armed version of Spider-Man. In this form he is a member of Osbornes second version of the Dark Avengers and he first appeared in Osborn #1. He also makes an appearance during the Spider-Island saga, cultural depictions of spiders El Brujo Moche culture Huanchaco Trujillo, Peru Ai Apaec Art of the Andes, from Chavin to Inca. Rebecca Stone Miller, Thames and Hudson,1995, michael E. Moseley, Thames and Hudson,1992. Www. huacas. com Sun and Moon Official Project information

6.
Lady of Cao
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The Lady of Cao is a name given to a female Moche mummy discovered at the archeological site El Brujo, which is located about 45 km north of Trujillo in the La Libertad Region of Peru. The mummy, which was heavily tattooed and wrapped in layers of cloth, was found with a number of ceremonial items, including weapons. Also found were the remains of a young woman, possibly a human sacrifice. A modern autopsy indicated that the Lady of Cao was in her mid twenties when she died, the estimated date of death for the Lady of Cao is about 450 CE. Prior to this discovery, it was believed that only men held high rank in the Moche culture, the discovery of the Lady of Cao burial is compared with that of the Lord of Sipan in terms of important archeological discoveries relating to the Moche. Rebecca Stone-Miller, Thames and Hudson,1995, the Incas and Their Ancestors, the archaeology of Peru. Michael E. Moseley, Thames and Hudson,1992

7.
Moche Route
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The route runs along the northern Peruvian mainly through the regions called La Libertad and Lambayeque. In this route, are found the archaeological sites in this area of Peru. Recently the MINCETUR has received the Ulysses Award for the promotion of this tourist route in 2011, some places of the Moche route are, Huanchaco Huaca del Sol Huaca de la Luna, etc. Rebecca Stone-Miller, Thames and Hudson,1995, the Incas and Their Ancestors, the archaeology of Peru. Michael E. Moseley, Thames and Hudson,1992

8.
Pampa Grande
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Were you looking for the Bolivian community known as Pampagrande. Pampa Grande is a site located in the Lambayeque Valley, in northern Peru. It is located to the east of the city of Chiclayo and this ancient city belonged both to Cupisnique and to Chavin cultures, and the earliest dates are around 600 BC. Later, during the Moche period, the city was a regional capital. Another famous Moche site, Sipan, is located only about 10 km west from Pampa Grande along the Chancay River valley, Pampa Grande is located about 54 km inland from the Pacific Ocean. During the time of the Moche occupation at Pampa Grande the Lambayeque Valley generally had a moderate climate year round, the average temperature measures about 22 degrees C and ranges from 10 degrees C to 35 degrees C depending on the seasons. In the winter months from June to September the El Nino current picks up and brings torrential rains, however, these rains rarely hit the valley, as the annual precipitation levels are minimal. The rainy season lasts from February to April, the Chancay River is filled to capacity during the rainy season. Considerable rains must have hit the site since the Moche period, because the architecture of the site, during the Early Horizon Period, Cupisnique and Chavin occupations—600-300 B. C. The Early Intermediate Period Moche II-IV—100 B. C. -500 A. D, varied but expansive architecture, not portable artifacts. Phases III and IV developed a “momentum” of increased polity, the Middle Horizon Moche V -- 600-700 A. D. Biochrome/polychrome painted vessels/jars represent Moche V artistic tradition. Diversity in architectural structures exists to a further extent than Moche IV, the rectangular enclosures and settlement plan are evidence of Huari Empirical domination and development. The Late Intermediate Period Chimu culture—1000-1400 A. D, there is surprisingly little Inca pottery or materials left from their dominance until the arrival of the Spaniards. There is little left from pre-Moche II phases. If there were any significant evidence left behind, much of it would have destroyed by the later Moche civilization phases. According to Shimada, the “post-Moche V developments in the region remain largely unknown. ”This makes Moche phases II-V the most examined periods, the site was excavated with a large team of students and professionals for the Royal Ontario Museum Project starting in 1973, and continuing through 1975. Day, Izumi Shimada, Melody Shimada, Andrew Ignatieff, Martha Anders, Hans Knapp, John Haas, Manuel Arboleda, many of these participants helped in some way in the interpretation of the site as well. In addition, Terry D’Altroy, Christine Krueger, Ciro Hurtado, starting in 2004, Llana Johnson worked at the site for her dissertation at UCLA